One of the best laid-out and most animal-packed zoos in the country, the Philadelphia Zoo is set among a charming 42-acre Victorian garden with tree-lined walks, formal shrubbery, ornate iron cages and animal sculptures.

The zoo has garnered many "firsts" in addition to being the first zoo charted in the United States (1859), including the first orangutan and chimp births in a U.S. zoo (1928), the world's first children's zoo (1957) and the first U.S. exhibit of white lions (1993).

In addition to its animals, the zoo is known for its historic architecture, which includes the country home of William Penn's grandson, its botanical collections of over 500 plant species, its groundbreaking research and its fine veterinary facilities.

Animals at the Philadelphia Zoo are on the move like never before. With the new animal exploration trail experience called Zoo360, a campus-wide network of see-through mesh trails affords more opportunities for animals to roam around and above zoo grounds.